Copper

Copper is a redish shiny metal that is fairly soft, and will bend easily without shattering or cracking. It's melting point is quite high (about 2,000F) so I can only melt small beads of it with my blow torch.

It's atomic symbol is "Cu", atomic number is 29 and it's atomic weight is 63.546 (the atomic weight isn't an exact number because different isotopes(numbers of neutrons) are mixed, most commonly it has 34 Neutrons, but sometimes has 35. Both Isotopes are stable (non radioactive)) It's electron shells(layers) have 2, 8, 18, and 1 electrons in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th shell accordingly.

It sits in the Transition Metals section of the periodic table, right after Nickel and before Zinc. It conducts electricity very well, which is why it's used very commonly in circuit boards and wires. Below it on the periodic table are Silver, then Gold, which both show similar traits to copper being non-reactive(doesn't rust easily), soft, and very good conductors of electricity.

Copper also forms many oxides (rusts) and other salts (compounds) that range from green to blue color, and are so vivid they are sometimes used in dyes and paints(see bottom picture below). The green color of the Statue of Liberty is because of copper in it.

Copper is also used in Alloys, or mixes of metals, because it makes them stronger or better electrical conductors. Most Aluminum is made with a small amount of Copper in it to help it shatter or crack less. Another common alloy is Brass, being a mixture of Copper and Zinc, which is known for a gold color, and is also somewhat corrosion(rust) proof.

These are my copper samples. Top picture, Sample 1:

This is a solid copper ball used in copper-plating, I got it because my dad works for a company that has circuit boards made for them, so I got a tour of the company. These balls are placed in a stainless-steel cage then submerged in acid, and when electricity flows from the balls to whatever they're plating, copper atoms will flow with it resulting in the ball getting smaller and a thin layer of copper appearing on the object being plated. They had a big bucket full of these (at the time they where shinier) and I got to keep one just by asking!

Sample 2:(and picture 2)

This is a giant slab of copper about 1/4" thick, it is very very heavy and has a nice shine to it. I do not know what it was used for, my dad got it as scrap (even though it's worth over $30, might've been cheaper when it was thrown out) at a past job. It's the biggest single piece of copper I've ever held.

Sample 3:

This doesn't look like copper because it is plated in Nickel, but if you scrape it you can see it is solid copper. It was used in a big piece of radio equipment my dad took apart that used high voltage (Copper conducts well). There where 2 of them, but I broke one trying to melt it.

Sample 4:

These are just pieces of electrical wire, used in houses everywhere! I coiled them so they wouldn't be so hard to carry, the bigger one is about 2 feet long if un-coiled.

Sample 5:

This is what is called "Native Copper", because it was found in nature exactly how it is. Most times copper will be found in an "ore", which is just a compound or oxide, but it is sometimes found in pure form such as this.

Sample 6:

United States pennies! These are easily the most commonly seen form of copper, and makes a nice display for any collection like mine. However, pennies minted(made) AFTER 1982 are not pure copper, they have a core made of Zinc and a thin layer of Copper on the outside, because it is cheaper(If you grind or scrape the edges, you will soon see a silvery metal instead of copper). Pennies before this date (the top one in this pic is a 1950, quite rare) are pure copper though, and, oddly enough, worth more than 1 cent.

Sample 7:

This is copper foil, used in arts and crafts. It's easily found in most arts and crafts stores, sold just for it's pleasing color. It can be cut easily with good scissors. Some older houses used copper for roof ridges in a similar form, at a demolition site I once saw a piece about 8" wide, 3 feet long, and much thicker than this, but I wasn't allowed to keep it. Today copper is to expensive for this use($3/pound)

This is Copper Acetate dissolved in water, a good example of the blue colors copper can make. I made this by taking White Vinegar, putting two pieces of Copper in it(not touching each other), then putting electricity(any electricity will do, I used a 6 volt lamp battery, but the more power the faster it will work) between them. If left long enough, the vinegar will turn blue, and this is what's left. You can boil the water off and get a very vivid, light blue-green powder, which is pure copper acetate (not dissolved). NOTE: I do not know if this is poisonous, but I highly suggest you do NOT eat/drink it or get it on your hands right before dinner.

This sums up my post on Copper, any questions or comments gladly accepted and hopefully answered! Feel free to point out anything important I've left out, and I'll try to fix it.